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The effect of ergometer design on rowing stroke mechanics
Author(s) -
Greene A. J.,
Sinclair P. J.,
Dickson M. H.,
Colloud F.,
Smith R. M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01404.x
Subject(s) - rowing , cycle ergometer , bicycle ergometer , mechanical energy , medicine , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , power (physics) , physics , heart rate , blood pressure , quantum mechanics , archaeology , history
The effect of rowing ergometer design upon power delivery and coordination patterns of the rowing stroke was analyzed for 14 elite rowers. Rowers were tested in three ergometer conditions: the fixed stretcher C oncept2c ergometer, the C oncept2c ergometer mounted on sliding rails, and the sliding stretcher R ow P erfect ergometer. Ergometers were instrumented to measure the external force generated at the handle and the foot stretcher and a nine‐segment inverse dynamics model used to calculate joint and overall power delivery. Peak power generation and absorption at the knee joint was significantly greater, and total power delivered to the ergometer delayed on the fixed stretcher ergometer when compared to the sliding stretcher ergometers. No differences were found in the mechanical energy delivered to the handle of the three ergometers; however, greater joint mechanical energy production of the lower limb reduced mechanical efficiency when rowing the C oncept2c fixed ergometer. The fixed foot stretcher on the C oncept2c fixed ergometer acts to increase the inertial forces that the rower must overcome at the catch, increasing the moment and power output at the knee, and affecting the coordination pattern during the recovery phase.